Human Services

Course Information

Are you interested in a career that develops the potential and promotes the worth of each individual? Assumption College’s Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies (HSRS) program provides a strong foundation for work in a variety of health and human service-related fields and organizations providing services to children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. A specific emphasis is placed on working with children and adults with disabilities in human service and rehabilitation settings.

HSRS prepares you to go on to graduate school in programs like rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, social work, speech-language pathology, counseling psychology, school psychology, physical therapy, occupational therapy and nursing.

Experiential Learning

A significant distinction of Assumption’s HSRS curriculum is a required internship that enables students to develop and refine the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for working as a human service professional. Students complete a 400-hour internship in a human service setting where they are supported and supervised by a faculty member as well as other personnel.

Major

Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies majors are required to complete 10 HSRS courses as well as three courses from related disciplines, providing students with a strong liberal arts foundation areas.

Minor

The Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies minor consists of six courses, four of which are required. The remaining two electives human services courses suit your individual interests and career objectives. Studenst also have the opportunity to customize a minor based on their interests.

Specialized Programs

Assumption offers students from all majors, including HSRS, an opportunity to concentrate in specialty areas related to the human services.

Communication Sciences and Disorders: The Communication Sciences concentration prepares you to work as a Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) aide or to pursue graduate studies in the fields of Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology.

Occupational and Physical Therapy Concentration: This concentration prepares students for graduate study in either Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy. Students are encouraged to major in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies, Biology or Psychology.

The department of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies has an accelerated path that allows exceptional Assumption undergraduates who have completed their general education requirements and the required courses for their HSRS major to begin working toward a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling during their senior year. Courses you take during your senior year enable you to complete your master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling in 5 years instead of 6.

Degree Requirements

Working with Children and Adolescents in Community Settings Concentration: This concentration is dedicated to promotinge healthy social emotional and academic development among "at-risk" populations.

Six-in-Five Graduate Program: The Department of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies has an accelerated path that allows outstanding Assumption undergraduates who have completed their general education requirements and the required courses for their major to begin working toward a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling during their senior year.

Major

Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies (HSRS) majors are required to complete 10 HSRS courses as well as three courses from other related disciplines.

Required Courses

The major in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies requires the successful completion of the following courses:

HRS 119 Introduction to Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies

HRS 121 Human Development and Disability Across the Lifespan

HRS 200 Addiction: Etiology, Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation

HRS 210 Medical Aspects of Disability

HRS 219 Rehabilitation Strategies and Interventions

HRS 305 Client Information and Assessment

HRS 320 Psychiatric Rehabilitation

HRS 330 Interviewing Techniques in Human and Rehabilitation Services

HRS 340 Principles of Case Management

HRS 490 Internship in Human Services

Other Required Courses

Students are also required to complete one course in each of the following perspective areas for the major in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies:

Psychological Perspective (Choose One):

PSY 116 Abnormal Psychology

PSY 140 Psychology of Personality

PSY 181 Psychology of Adolescence & Maturity

PSY 190 Psychology of Development: Infancy & Childhood

PSY 210 Social Psychology

PSY 353 Psychology of Learning

Cultural Perspective (Choose One):

ANT 131 Cultural Anthropology

ANT 225 Women and Men in a Cross-cultural Perspective

ANT 254 North American Indian

ANT 255 Interaction with Indians in North America

SOC 216 Racial and Ethnic Relations

SOC 224 Gender Issues in Society

SOC 230 Aging in Society

PSY 186 Psychology of Aging

PSY 117 Psychology of Women

HIS 269 History of African Americans

HIS 213 Women & the American Experience

SOC 206 The Sociology of Urban Life

SOC 216 Racial and Ethnic Relations

SOC 285 Women’s Studies I: Images

WMS 385 Women of the World

Societal, Family Perspective (Choose One):

SOC 122 Social Problems

SOC 223 The Family in Society

HRS 420 Family Aspects of Disability

EDU 201 Schools and Society

Electives

Although not required for the major in Human and Rehabilitation Services, electives are recommended. Students are encouraged to choose from the following coures offerings:

PSY 225 Research Methods

PSY 265 Statistics

SOC 206 The Sociology of Urban Life

SOC 232 Inequality and Society

SOC 234 Social Policy

SOC 300 Words and Numbers: Tools of Sociological Analysis

Other HSRS courses

Minor

The HSRS minor consists of six courses, four of which are required. The remaining two are Human Services courses of the student's choice that suit their individual interests and career objectives. Students also have the opportunity to customize a minor based on their interests.

Required Courses

HRS 119 Introduction to Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies

HRS 340 Principles of Case Management

HRS 330 Interviewing Techniques in Human & Rehabilitation Services

HRS 400 Individual in the Community (Field Placement for non-majors)

Two other HSRS courses

Faculty

In addition to their excellent teaching credentials, the Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies faculty have extensive experience as practitioners. This blend of the practical and scholarly results in a rich classroom environment where course concepts and theories are integrated with real-world case studies. Our teachers are also mentors and get to know students individually. Faculty advisors assist students with everything from course selection to exploring their career opportunities.

Internships

A significant distinction of Assumption’s HSRS curriculum is a required internship that enables students to develop and refine the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for working as a human service professional. Each student completes a semester-long internship in an appropriate setting. Students meet with their faculty supervisor weekly to process experiences and make connections between these experiences and course content/theory.